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The Center Parcs Experience

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Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 1,382 ✭✭✭FFVII


    Yea, thats fine. But any kind of criticism and you get that clueless lot defending it like they own it.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,705 ✭✭✭notAMember




  • Registered Users Posts: 3,952 ✭✭✭Monokne


    Unless you want to go to centre parcs and not have a foreign holiday?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 429 ✭✭Craftylee


    hi folks,

    looking for your feedback on either an apartment or a lodge for 2 people staying. apartments seem really nice and modern, but I'm worried it won't feel like that "woodland" experience compared to a lodge with a wood burner etc.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,450 ✭✭✭✭salmocab


    I’d be of the opinion that I’d go with the smallest suitable and cheapest available. Which for you is probably the apartment, unless you’re bringing a baby then you might want the extra space to put them in a bedroom while you have a drink. Its expensive enough that I wouldn’t get something unnecessary as an extra, the apartments look lovely and look over the lake.



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  • Moderators Posts: 12,390 ✭✭✭✭Black_Knight


    What's the etc? The wood burner is nice I guess, though if you've an apartment you'd probably spend your evening with a glass of wine overlooking the lake. The "woodland experience" from the cabins can be mixed - the backs of them typically look out onto some amount of woodland, and a deer did sprint by us 1 evening (so fast I just caught a glimpse), but that's about it. IMO, go for the apartment unless you've kids.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,808 ✭✭✭✭greenspurs


    We have booked for 4 nights around Paddys day.

    looking forward to it ...

    "Bright lights and Thunder .................... " #NoPopcorn



  • Registered Users Posts: 735 ✭✭✭Hamadeusentman


    Hi there. I’m sure this has been asked and answered somewhere in this thread already but can anyone tell me how much an adult and a child’s bicycle to rent is please? We’re going for four days in April.

    thanks in advance.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,450 ✭✭✭✭salmocab


    Not positive on this as it’s been a while but think it was a bit less than 40 a bike, 38 is in my head that’s per bike. Be aware though that the booking for bikes looks odd whatever way they have it set up, the price kinda looks like that’s the price for day and the bike has to be picked up at a specific time, it’s for your stay and you can pick up at anytime.

    not cheap but if you don’t have a bike or a bike carrier it what can you do. Although if you do have bikes it might be a similar price to buy a bike carrier which you might get to use again.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,715 ✭✭✭✭fits


    We managed absolutely fine without bikes recently. Some lodges are very close to the village.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,677 ✭✭✭PhoenixParker


    Look up ballymahon greenway cycles.

    They're local & about half the price.



  • Registered Users Posts: 735 ✭✭✭Hamadeusentman


    Thanks for all the feedback and advice.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,808 ✭✭✭✭greenspurs


    We have booked bikes here for ours, very reasonably priced and great to deal with (so far 🙂 )

    "Bright lights and Thunder .................... " #NoPopcorn



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,711 ✭✭✭✭Muahahaha


     Although if you do have bikes it might be a similar price to buy a bike carrier which you might get to use again.

    Thats what my BIL did, he said it was cheaper to buy a bike carrier for the car than to rent 3 bikes for 4 days. And they'll likely use it again for further trips to Centre Parks or greenways.

    38 euro a day to rent a bike is fair wedge, especially when most are renting in 3s or 4s for multiple days. I think buying a bike carrier would always work out cheaper than that.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,450 ✭✭✭✭salmocab


    @Muahahaha the price is per stay for rental of bikes, so it’s 38 for 3 or 4 days.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,032 ✭✭✭✭cj maxx




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,450 ✭✭✭✭salmocab


    No it’s not, now it’s been a couple of years since I was there so I might be wrong on the price but I’m pretty sure it’s in that ball park. Still though if you were bringing 3/4 kids it’s another couple of hundred quid onto the price of a holiday.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,032 ✭✭✭✭cj maxx


    2 adults and 2 kids. The trick now is to find a woman who'll go with me 🙄



  • Registered Users Posts: 851 ✭✭✭2lazytogetup


    Just back and found it underwhelming.

    It's good for people who don't really like the outdoors but want to experience it. It's all too artificial with manicured paths and no room for exploring. It's very strategic by CP by having you drop off your car at dar away car park. It's like you are stuck with overprice restaurants that don't display prices. Though less cars is nice for walking.Activities are twice price of other places and it's all about safety, not fun. The big aqua centre is good though and cause it's so expensive it's full of very civilised middle classes.

    I'm glad I went but dont think I'll be returning. Some positives such as set in a carved out forest is lovely but feel it could be done somewhere else at less price with more excitement.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 351 ✭✭rodmn2377


    we went in November and booked our bikes with John, really nice guy a lot cheaper but ya have to walk up to a gate outside the park to collect them. this was kinda awkward for us with a little girl with additional needs so we booked this time with centre parks for our stay in March. Its 38 euro to book the bike for your stay with centre parks. would recommend John and Greenway cycles if your happy enough to walk a bit to collect them.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,808 ✭✭✭✭greenspurs


    "cause it's so expensive it's full of very civilised middle classes."

    Come on ...... 🙄


    Maybe you should go camping in the mountains then , or join the Army for the wilder experience?

    Anyone that goes knows its not set in a wild forest! Or , maybe just not you ?

    "Bright lights and Thunder .................... " #NoPopcorn



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,161 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato


    Trabolgan is far from cheap but is full of people you'd rather not live next door to.

    In Cavan there was a great fire / Judge McCarthy was sent to inquire / It would be a shame / If the nuns were to blame / So it had to be caused by a wire.



  • Registered Users Posts: 851 ✭✭✭2lazytogetup


    i meant that its full of civilised middle classes as a positive thing. my point is that there is no-one making trouble. i never thought it was set in a wild forest. id say alot of boards readers come here as they dont what to expect if they book it so i was explaining what it is like. and although most boards posters can be very negative, i didnt mean that as a negative thing either. it is very safe. they got as far as to salting the paths during frost. which is a good thing



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,808 ✭✭✭✭greenspurs


    I apologise so if thats what you meant. I didnt read it that way....

    "Bright lights and Thunder .................... " #NoPopcorn



  • Moderators Posts: 12,390 ✭✭✭✭Black_Knight


    Can't say I ever thought the restaurants were overpriced. Though they were pretty reasonable TBH.

    Car park is no more than 15-20 minutes of a walk if you need your car. Having been twice, we've never needed our car once we unpacked. They have to put the cars somewhere, and it's great the place is walk/bike focused without cars anywhere nearby.



  • Registered Users Posts: 851 ✭✭✭2lazytogetup


    yeah, okay, thats probably more a reflection of me and what i chose on the menu. fair point.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,808 ✭✭✭✭greenspurs


    This day next week , we will be there..

    We are looking forward to it.. .Hopefully the weather is kind :)

    "Bright lights and Thunder .................... " #NoPopcorn



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,808 ✭✭✭✭greenspurs


    Firstly - could not fault the place.

    Everything is the way it should be. The staff are excellent, park is excellent.

    It is expensive, but in this case, you get exactly what you pay for!

    As i said , i couldnt fault the place, would highly recommend it, and we will be back.

    "Bright lights and Thunder .................... " #NoPopcorn



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,450 ✭✭✭✭salmocab




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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,808 ✭✭✭✭greenspurs


    "Bright lights and Thunder .................... " #NoPopcorn



  • Moderators Posts: 12,390 ✭✭✭✭Black_Knight


    Just back from CP, and to be fair to you I thought the restaurant prices had gone up. 2 adults (mains and desert) and 2 small kids meals with a drink each for ourselves was €80+. Wasn't anything near that last year. They did sneak chips and dip as an extra onto our bill though. It was sold to me as part of my main, not an extra ("do you want chips or salad" not "would you like to add chips or salad").

    Got an Indian takeaway (restaurant was closed due to staff shortages - in general this was noticeable during our stay) and wasn't impressed at all. Pity, as the indian restaurant is top notch.

    Other than that, it was yet again great. Very clean common areas. Staff shortages/sickness was a bit noticeable in the cabin where 1 or 2 things were missing, or a floor not totally clean. Plenty to do there, and kids were delighted. Restaurants were a bit tricky with the Indian being closed and it being a busy weekend, but it wasn't the end of the world.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,808 ✭✭✭✭greenspurs


    Indian restaurant - That would probably be the only 'gripe' .....

    We got a takeaway, and it was bland. very bland, and small portion size.

    "Bright lights and Thunder .................... " #NoPopcorn



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,043 ✭✭✭enricoh


    Thing is nowadays if a kid is climbing a tree n cuts themselves it's a potential juicy payout. They have to make places a bit sterile for the insurance assessor calling out.



  • Moderators Posts: 12,390 ✭✭✭✭Black_Knight


    Yup. Bland was the word i'd use. Fair enough you want to cater to as many as you can, but there's not spicy, and there's bland. Wouldn't judge them on this 1 stay though. Last time we went there it was fantastic.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,161 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato


    Maybe they should rebrand it as an English restaurant 😋


    In Cavan there was a great fire / Judge McCarthy was sent to inquire / It would be a shame / If the nuns were to blame / So it had to be caused by a wire.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,715 ✭✭✭✭fits


    The food in general isn’t great there. I’ll be cooking more next time.



  • Registered Users Posts: 851 ✭✭✭2lazytogetup


    Are there still staff shortages there. when i was there lots of the slides werent running and was told they had to close them as not enough staff. with feb/march prices far lower than june/july prices, i didnt notice disgruntled customers. however if they tried that in june july with people paying 2k for a 4 night stay, id be up in arms.



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,382 ✭✭✭FFVII


    Usually around 30 jobs listed all the time, every department except one. No one will stay. Awful kip to work in. Sh1t money, sh1t hours, sh1t conditions and you're all worse for supporting it.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,808 ✭✭✭✭greenspurs


    Well, if its as bad as you say, the staff are great at hiding it during interactions with us customers staying there.......

    "Bright lights and Thunder .................... " #NoPopcorn



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,382 ✭✭✭FFVII


    What? Ya need a job when looking for a job/studying....for now anyway....but lookit...their was 220million+ plastic cups used in Ireland last year, knowing all we know and this is still going on....and this is just the tip of the berg...i hope theirs no nuclear fallout in Ireland...these coffee, center P 2500£ for a week folk need a little awakening.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,450 ✭✭✭✭salmocab


    Well it’s not often you get to read so much scutter jammed into one post.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,043 ✭✭✭enricoh


    Tell us how you really feel! Just googled there n they have just under 900 staff, I'm surprised there is not more vacancies as all hospitality is crying out for staff at the minute.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,808 ✭✭✭✭greenspurs


    What are you on about ???!?!?!

    What has plastic cups got to do with us going to Centre Parks ??

    "Bright lights and Thunder .................... " #NoPopcorn



  • Posts: 0 ✭✭✭✭ Willow Raspy Smile


    I am booked to go next month but we were a bit slow off the mark booking restaurants and they all seem to be booked up now for our stay (bar the Sports Bar). Is there any chance we'll get into any of them in the late afternoon/evening once we get there, or are they pretty strict with the bookings? Thanks.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,809 ✭✭✭Mr. Guappa


    We were there in February and they all turned away any walk-ups. The place could be empty or close to it but they still refused.

    Spots will open up all the time though, possibly moreso when you are there. We had restaurants booked each evening, but when we got there the kids wanted to go to the Pancake house - no availability when we checked initially but spots did open up then. Maybe book a few slots in the Sports Bar and see what develops when you are there? Food is pretty similar everywhere anyway to be honest.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,243 ✭✭✭witchgirl26


    We had this with our first stay but just kept an eye on spaces during the time we were there & booked them when they became available. There were some walk in availability but it was really limited.



  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,914 Mod ✭✭✭✭shesty


    We were there in March.In general quite good - wouldn't be paying the summer prices for it mind you.

    Also another vote against the Indian takeaway here.Found it very bland also, and disappointing.The restaurants were ok in general otherwise, nothing hugely special but perfect for meals out in a place like that.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,715 ✭✭✭✭fits


    Yeah I wouldn’t be overly upset about missing out on the restaurants.



  • Moderators Posts: 12,390 ✭✭✭✭Black_Knight


    I'd be pretty upset if i'd to cook for myself! 🤣



  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,914 Mod ✭✭✭✭shesty


    I think it is more the principle of not having to cook while on holiday.😁They suffice for that.



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